Michael James Smith was born in Southend-on-Sea Essex on 22nd February 1976. The second son of the British landscape artist, David Smith. In stark contrast to his father’s early life, for as far back as Michael can remember, he was immersed and surrounded by artistic endeavour as his father worked in his studio and often when seeking inspiration and scenes for his paintings, he would take Michael on trips to the countryside, into areas of outstanding natural beauty. A young boy walking the hills and dales of Britain with vistas seldom seen by most, has left him with a deep and abiding love of this country from where his artistic talent was to emerge and blossom.